Thread by @khalidkarim

This is a thread about why I think a BRT is a more appropriate system for GKL than MRT1 & LRT3

Backgrounder:To complete MRT1 & LRT3 about RM50~60B will be required.On completion...the two systems will cover 89 km in two corridors.Combined capacity is 26,000 pax per hour

Bus Rapid Transit is a new innovation currently in operations in 162 cities and growing.Essentially...it's buses running on dedicated lanes largely on "existing" roads.In certain areas,roads may need widening or BRT elevated.

BRT replicates the MRT in many ways eg: same level station to bus boarding,tickets purchase before boarding,stations equipped with info boards...
The main features described in the picture below;

BRT can be designed to cater for capacities of 6,000/hour to 48,000 per hour (ref:Systra study for World Bank)
Cost of a simple BRT is about RM10 mil/km but can increase to RM80 mil/km in the more complex high capacity BRT.

This means that BRT per km cost is only max 20% of MRT

This simple chart explains.For low ridership,regular bus is ok.As demand increases..a bigger system is needed ie either trams or BRT.
Only in very high traffic corridors,is MRT a necessity.
MRT1 and LRT3 are both below the "high capacity" threshold

If we have money to burn...it's ok to build MRT even though the demand does not justify the investment.But Malaysia is NOT in such a situation.We have high debts...we must find solutions that gives better returns ie solve problem at lowest cost.
This drawing explains~

In 2011,Halcrow (a UK consultant)was engaged to draw up the GKL Public Transport MasterPlan.MRT was already approved when they were appointed~thus I suspect their hands are a bit tied up.
Nevertheless their recommendation is for 12 BRT corridors to be completed by 2015

The SunWay BRT is one of the corridors identified but it is the LOWEST priority.Instead Najib decided to do it first...and instead of using existing road~elevated the guideway; resulting it to be amongst the most expensive BRT in the world.Ridership is 25% of forecast.

This gives a better illustration of the proposed BRT routes.The routing covers more of KL than the MRT2 and LRT3.
There are 4 times more stations this giving more access to the BRT service compared to MRT2 and LRT3.

Capacity of the BRT system is 150K pax per hour ie 6 times more than LRT3+MRT2.Estimated cost is RM10B for a mix of high capacity routes and medium capacities.

Thus...potentially saving RM40B despite the higher capacity and wider network.

The BRT network will hv full integration with Ampang & KJLine,SBK Line,Komuter...thus creating a truly multi modal solution.
Within the BRT itself;there can be multiple services eg KL-Klang Express,KL to KJ,Klang-Shah Alam-Subang etc

With the lower investment~fares can be lower.For example,fare can be RM1.50 point to point limited by travel time of 2 or 3 hours within the system.RM60 unlimited travel monthly card may also be viable.

I guess it's pretty clear that the BRT wud be favorable to the users cos it offers a wider network,better accessibility with about 200 stations compared to only 50 on LRT3 & MRT2 and with more affordable fares.

Next~how will it impact businesses?

It will be better for businesses...
1)With better access of 200 stations~more property devt opportunities can be generated.
2)Biz will also potentially hv more customers eg takes me 2.2 hours to go to Bangi now.With the Shah Alam-PutraJ- Kajang BRT~ journey reduced by 1 hour.

BRT is very simple to construct.Most of the infra can be built using locally manufactured materials.The works itself is simple and straightforward.

Thus,instead of the few big boys for MRT2 & LRT3...the BRT can be contracted out to hundreds of small to medium-sized contractors.

Thus for the construction industry the benefits are

1)Provides DIRECT opportunities hundreds of small to medium sized contractors
2)Reduces the expensive imports of the MRT2 & LRT3
3)Reduces imported "consultants and foreign specialist"

Those are BIG WINS for the economy

The major cost of the BRT are the buses itself.My estimate is that the system will need about 4000 buses.
Preferably,it shud be e-Bus.Alternatively...it cud be NGV Buses or combination of both.

The chassis and big components may hv to imported but the body & fit-out is done locally.This will offer a lot of job opportunities for locals and for a few companies especially SMEs

In a nutshell...MRT benefits the big boys.BRT benefits the SMEs.

Which do u prefer?

Next..is the operations.
BRT system itself must be controlled by one single Govt company.
But within the system...there can be MANY privately owned bus operating companies.They hv to compete via open tender for Bus operating contracts~whereby they will be paid fixed monthly fees

I guess there will be a need for about 30-40 Bus Operating Contracts~thus more opportunities for SMEs,10,000 Bus captains and many more support staff.

That shud be MRT2 and LRT3...not MRT1

But...like all things~it can't be all good.Biggest problem wud be the objections frm car owners.Obviously...with a few lanes taken out..cars will be more congested.
Issue is~do we want to move people or do we want to move cars?

And political will to do right for the majority

danielbowen.com/2012/09/19/roa… this is also a good reference to compare road space occupied by cars and bus to move the same number of passengers

To conclude~the way forward.
1)Suspend LRT3 and MRT2
2)Engage the experts eg ITDP,@transitmy and experts from our local university to do a full study on BRT implementation including business case
3)Include @9VSQA proposals on Komuter/ETS upgrades in the bigger scheme.

Thank you.

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